Apparatus for proportioning the delivery of liquids



J. A. GRIER March 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING THE DELIVERY OF LIQUIDS Filed July 10, 1947 Sal. it!

' INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 9, 1954 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PROPORTIONING THE DELIVERY OF LIQUIDS John Alfred Grier, New York, N. Y.

Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 759,993

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for .proportioning the delivery of liquids and is directed more particularly to apparatus moved by a first liquid for moving a second liquid in quantities definitely proportionate to the quantity of said first liquid passing through said apparatus.

In some types of vending machines for dispensing soft drinks, for example, it has heretofore been customary to employ individual measuring cylinders for both the carbonated water and for the syrup or flavor. In some types of dis pensing machines, the syrup or flavor is measured in a pocket or cavity connected to the draft arm, so that when an operator opens the draft arm, the syrup in the cavity is cut off from the source of syrup and the contents of the cavity how out and mingle with the carbonated water passing out of the draft arm. If there is any definite proportioning of the two liquids in such devices of the prior art, it is defined in the first instance by the sizes of the cylinders, and it is defined in the second instance by the size of the glass into which the two liquids are delivered.

Attempts in the past have been made to provide a device which delivers syrup in definite proportions to the quantity of carbonated water, but in all such arrangements, the carbonated water, itself, exercises no direct control over the delivery of the syrup. Instead, the delivery of syrup was controlled by some other means.

My concept of having a wheel or rotor (such as those employed in liquid meters) rotated by the carbonated water; and having a rotary pump driven by this rotor, is believed to be novel in the art. The capacity of the rotary pump is in accordance with the desired proportion of syrup to the carbonated water driving the pump.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means operated by the major fluid entering into a beverage for delivering a proportionate quantity of a minor fluid.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in apparatus for dispensing drinks, of means actuated by carbonated water or the like for delivering a flavor or syrup, the quantity of said syrup being in a definite predetermined ratio with the quantity of carbonated water passing through said means.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of means for continuously delivering and mingling carbonated water and syrup, said water and said syrup being definitely proportioned to produce a beverage of uniform consistency regardless of the quantity delivered.

Other objects will be apparent from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings which are primarily provided to illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of the device, said elevation being partly broken away, and having a closure member removed to show details of the interior;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section as seen along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the device of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, connected to a source of carbonated water under pressure, also connected to a source of syrup, and showing the mingling of the discharged carbonated water and the discharged syrup;

Figure 5 is an elevation, similar to Figure 1, of a modified form of the device in which the syrup is moved by means other than a gear pump;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines 66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines l-l of Figure 6.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, a main body 26 has a round portion 2! having a bore 22 formed therein and a slightly larger counterbore 23 concentric therewith. Also concentric with the bore 22 is a bearing hole 24, which may be best seen in Figure 2.

The body 20 has oppositely extending aligned bosses 25 and 26 preferably integral therewith. The boss 25 has a passage 2'l formed therein and communicating with the bore 22 to form a port 28, and the boss 26 has passage 29 formed therein and communicating with the bore 22 to form a port 30 A shaft 3| is journaled in the bearing hole 24 and has a portion 32,, intermediate the ends thereof, of larger diameter. Secured to the portion 32 is the hub 33 of an impeller 34 from which radiates a plurality of blades 35 which may have a back plate 36 secured thereto, thereby forming a substantially rigid rotor structure.

A closure plate 31 for the end of the bore 22 has a stepped portion 3% which fits the counterbore 23 in both diameter and depth. The clo sure plate 31 also has a bearing hole 39 therein (in axial alignment with the hole 24) to receive the left end of the shaft 32, as seen in Figure 2. The closure plate is secured in position on the body 29 by means of screws 40, or any other suitable means. In order to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, gasket means 4| is provided.

The impeller or rotor 3t has only sufiicient clearance between its periphery and the bore 22 to permit it to be rotated freely without binding, consequently, carbonated water or any other liquid passing via the passage 21 and the port 28 will rotate the impeller in definite accordance with the quantity of carbonated water or other liquid passing therethrough. The liquid passes out via the port 30 and the passage 29.

The opposite side of the body 20, as seen in Figure 3, has a shallow bore 42 formed therein, which communicates with an 8-shaped cavity 43, the arcuate walls of which form clearances for meshed gears 44 and 45 positioned therein. The gear 44 is keyed or otherwise fixed on the shaft 3i, so that as the impeller 34 rotates the shaft, the gear 44 moves therewith.

The gear 45 is mounted on a shaft 46 journaled in aligned holes 41, 48 formed in the body 2! and a cover member 49, respectively. Since the gear 45 meshes with the gear 44, the two form a gear pump, which is driven by the impeller 34. The

cover member 49 may be secured on the body by means of screws 50 and may be oriented thereon by means of a dowel pin 51. The cover member has a hole 52 to accommodate the right end of the shaft 3| as seen in Figure 2, and gasket means 53 serves to form a fluid-tight seal between it and the body 2|.

The body 2| has formed integral therewith aligned oppositely extending bosses 54 and 55 which have passages 56 and 51, respectively, formed therein, and communicating with the 8- shaped cavity as shown, and these passages respectively form inlet and outlet ports for the gear pump. The outer ends of these passages may be internally threaded so that conduits for leading syrup to and from the pump may. be connected thereto.

Likewise, the bosses 25 and 29 may be provided with threads 58 and 59 to which conduits leading carbonated water to and from the passages 21 and 29, respectively, may be attached.

Figure 4 is diagrammatic, and it represents one of the devices shown in Figures 1 to 3, in operation. The boss 25 of the device 29, which is the inlet to the impeller 34, is connected via a conduit 60 to a valve 6| on a tank 62 of carbonated water under pressure. The boss 54, which is the inlet to the syrup pump, is connected via a conduit 63 to a vessel 64 of flavor or syrup. The vessel may be provided with a cover 65, so that the vessel does not have to be under pressure,

although the device will operate whether the syrup is under pressure or not. The boss 26, which receives the carbonated water after it leaves the impeller, has a nozzle 66 secured thereto. A conduit 61 has its lower end extending into the interior of the nozzle 66 and its other end is connected to the boss 55, which is the outlet of the syrup pump. When the valve 6| on the tank 62 is opened, carbonated water flows into the device, drives the impeller, and flows out via the nozzle 66. Due to the rotation of the impeller, the syrup pump operates and pumps syrup from the vessel 64 and delivers it into the nozzle via the conduit 61, where it mingles with the carbonated water and both are discharged into a glass or other vessel 58 positioned below the nozzle to receive the drink.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and '7, which show a modification of the invention, a main body l0 has a round portion 69, a round portion H, smaller in diameter, and a round portion 12 which is still smaller in diameter. These portions are preferably formed of one piece of material, and the portions II and 12 form stepped extensions of the portion 69. Within the body is formed a bore 13, a larger bore 14 communicating with the bore 13, and a counterbore '15 communicating with the bore 14.

The body has oppositely extending aligned bosses I9 and H preferably integral therewith. The boss 15 has a passage '18 formed therein and communicating with the bore 14 to form an inlet port 19, and the boss I! has a passage formed therein and communicating with the bore 15 to form a port 8|.

The body also has other oppositely extending aligned bosses 82 and 83 preferably formed integral therewith. The boss 82 has a passage 84 formed therein and communicating with the bore 13 to form a port 85, and the boss 83 has a passage 86 formed therein and communicating with the bore 13 to form a port 81.

Av closure plate 88 for the end of the bore 14 has a stepped portion 89 which fits into the counterbore 15 in both diameter and depth. The closure plate may be secured onto the body 19 by means of screws 99 with fluid-tight sealing means 9! between the plate and the body.

A bearing hole 92 is formed in the plate, and in axial alignment therewith in the body is a bearing hole 93. A shaft 94 is journaled in these bearing holes and has an intermediate portion 95 of larger diameter which shoulders against the bottom of the bore 13 and against the closure plate 88.

Mounted on the portion 95 of the shaft is a double impeller wheel generally designated by the numeral 96. This impeller wheel is preferably a unitary structure consisting of a tubular hub 91 having a disc 98 on the right end, as seen in Figure 6, and secured to the hub and the disc is a plurality of fiat blades or vanes 99. This portion of the impeller is similar to the impeller 34, shown in Figures 1 and 2, but the impeller wheel 96 is double, so referring back to Figure 6, joining the disc 98 on the right side thereof is a shorter tubular hub I09, and secured to this hub and the disc 98 is a plurality of vanes "H. The hub 91, I89 is secured to the portion 95 of the shaft, and the shaft and both sections of the impeller rotate as a unit. The proportion of the sizes of the two sections of the impeller are in accordance with the desired proportions of carbonated water to the syrup in the drink produced. The portion 91, 99 works in the bore 14 and is motivated by carbonated water entering via the passage 78 and leaving via the passage 80. The portion I99, l9! works in the bore [3, and moved by the other portion (91, 99) it moves syrup into said bore via passage 86 and pushes it therefrom via passage 84. The clearance between the face of the disc 98 and the bottom of the bore 14 is such that the syrup and the carbonated water are practicall isolated from each other. However, I am of the opinion that leakage of carbonated water into the bore '13 will do no harm, and instead will abet the discharge of the syrup therefrom.

Although the modification shown in Figures 1 to 3 will raise the syrup from a level below the device, it is preferable that the modification shown in Figures 5 to 7 have the syrup not lower than the inlet of the syrup pump.

It is preferable that a valve be employed between the above devices and the source of carbonated water. In cases where the device is located between the carbonated water and a control valve, a stuffing box should be provided on the shaft 24 (between the impeller 34 and the gear 44) but since stuffing boxes are old and well known in the art, it is not deemed necessary to show the stuffing box herein.

Although I have shown and described, to illustrate the invention, one embodiment and a modification thereof, it is obvious that many other different modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for proportioning carbonated water and syrup to produce a beverage, a rigid body having aligned bosses thereon and a first passage for said water extending through said aligned bosses from one end to the other, a cavity formed in said body and communicating with said passage between said bosses, a shaft journaled in said body, and having its axis concentric with the axis of said cavity, a second cavity concentric with and spaced apart from said first cavity, a fixed blade impeller secured on said shaft and adapted to be rotated by carbonated water passing through said first passage and said first cavity, a rotary pump element keyed to said shaft and positioned in said second cavity and at least one other element of said rotary pump being embedded in said body adjacent to said first pump element, aligned syrup passages extending through said body for leading syrup to and from said rotary pump, said first and said last passages being disposed 90 with respect to each other, and end plates detachably secured on opposite faces of said body to form closures for said cavities.

2. In a device for proportioning carbonated water and syrup to produce a beverage, a body having a passage extending therethrough for carbonated water, a cavity extending into said body from one face thereof and having the greater portion of its volume on one side of said passage, a second cavity extending into said body from the opposite face thereof in axial alignment with said first cavity, a bearing formed in said body between said cavities, a shaft journaled in said bearing and having a meter wheel secured on one end thereof and operatively supported thereby for rotation within said first cavity, said wheel having a hub and a plurality of fixed members of equal length, a gear keyed to the other end of said shaft and positioned in said second cavity, a third cavity communicating with said second cavity and having a fixed shaft therein parallel to and spaced apart from said first shaft, a sec- 0nd gear on said second shaft and cooperating with the first gear to form a gear pump, inlet and outlet syrup passages in said body for the gear pump extending through said body in angular relation to said first passage, and end plates secured on said faces of said body to form closures for said first and said second cavities, and means to merge the carbonated water dicharged from said first passage and the syrup discharged from the outlet of said gear pump to produce said drink.

3. In a device for proportioning fluids to produce a beverage, a body having a first passage therethrough through which a first fiuid under pressure may pass, a cavity formed in said body in communication with and having the greater portion of its volume on one side of said passage, a second cavity formed in said body in axially spaced apart relation to said first cavity, a bearing hole between said cavities and substantially concentric with both, said first cavity communicating with one face of said body and said sec ond cavity communicating with the opposite face of said body, a meter Wheel in said first cavity mounted for rotation on a shaft journaled in said bearing hole, said wheel having a plurality of impact receiving surfaces fixed in relation to each other and moved as a unit, a gear mounted on said shaft and driven thereby, a third cavity communicating with said second cavity to form a generally S-shaped cavity, a second gear mounted for rotation in said third cavity and meshing with said first gear to form a gear pump, inlet and outlet passages for said gear pump, an end plate detachably secured on said body and forming a closure for said first cavity, a second end plate detachably secured on the opposite face of said body and forming a closure for said B-shaped cavity, said end plates being removable independently, and means to deliver and merge fluids pumped by said gear pump with fluids discharged via said first passage to form a beverage.

4, In a device for proportioning carbonated water and syrup to produce a beverage, a body member having a circular cavity extending therein from one face thereof, a shaft journaled in said body concentric with said cavity, impeller means within said cavity fixed on said shaft and having a hub portion with fixed radiating elements each having an impact surface which is at least partially fiat, a plate forming a closure for said cavity, an inlet passage extending into said body and communicating with said cavity, said passage being adapted to be connected to a source of said carbonated water to cause said impeller means to rotate, an outlet passage extending outwardly from said cavity through said body, a gear pump having inlet and discharge ports, said pump being within a second cavity formed in said body member in non-concentric relation to said shaft and including one gear mounted on and rotated by said shaft, a second plate forming a closure for said second cavity, a first passage means connecting the inlet port of said pump to a source of said syrup, and a second passage means connected to the discharge port of said pump for leading syrup therefrom to a oint where it may commingle with carbonated water leaving said outlet passage, whereby said pump continuously delivers syrup from said discharge port as long as said carbonated water rotates said impeller means, said inlet and outlet passages being substantially in alignment with each other and spaced apart on substantially a straight line, with a portion of said impeller means therebetween, and said first and second passage means being disposed on a substantially straight line extending angularly with respect to said first passages, said plates being removable without disturbing the co-relation of said impeller means with said pump.

JOHN ALFRED GRIER.

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